Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Wingnut of the Day: Pete DeGraaf

Kansas pro-choice Republican state Rep. Barbara Bollier was concerned about legislation barring state or federally administered health-insurance exchanges from covering women wanting an abortion. (The only exemption is to save the life of the woman.) Rape would not be covered if the legislation is signed by Gov. Sam Brownbeck. Bollier pointed out that women cannot always prepare for an unwanted pregnancy. Rep. Pete DeGraaf made an amazingly insensitive statement.

During the House’s debate, Rep. Pete DeGraaf, a Mulvane Republican who supports the bill, told [Bollier]: “We do need to plan ahead, don’t we, in life?”

Bollier asked him, “And so women need to plan ahead for issues that they have no control over with a pregnancy?”

DeGraaf drew groans of protest from some House members when he responded, “I have spare tire on my car.”

“I also have life insurance,” he added. “I have a lot of things that I plan ahead for.”

So if women are raped they weren't properly prepared. Who the hell is properly prepared for rape. Margaret Hartmann of Jezebel sums up the cruelity of DeGraaf's statement.

Yeah ladies, it's your responsibility to plan for the possibility of rape. You chose to own a vagina, so you should have all the necessary tools for its upkeep. Being raped is definitely comparable to the brief annoyance of having a flat tire, so let's keep this up: The state isn't AAA, so don't expect it to help you out when you're breaking down over a devastating accident. Tire slashing? Hmm ... maybe this metaphor is actually terrible.

But DeGraaf is definitely on target with the rest of his remarks. Rape insurance is just like having life insurance: You're definitely going to die some day, and DeGraaf thinks you're definitely going to get raped. Don't come crying to him if you didn't prepare to be the victim of a horrific crime! I mean, you can try by contacting his office, but he's not the first guy I'd look to for help.